Schefflera plant named ‘Norma Jean’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Schefflera  plant named ‘Norma Jean’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; short internodes; dense and bushy growth habit; broadly elliptic-shaped leaves; developing leaves with green and yellow green-colored variegation; and fully expanded leaves with darker green and light yellow green-colored variegation.

Botanical designation: Schefflera arboricola.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Norma Jean’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSchefflera plant, botanically known as Schefflera arboricola, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Norma Jean’.

The new Schefflera was discovered in May, 2001 by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Apopka, Fla., as a naturally-occurring branchmutation of the Schefflera arboricola cultivar Hong Kong, not patented.The new Schefflera was selected from within a population of plants of‘Hong Kong’ and was selected on the basis of its unique foliagevariegation.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings in Apopka, Fla.,since May, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this newSchefflera are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Norma Jean have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and culture such as temperature and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Norma Jean’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Norma Jean’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofSchefflera:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Short internodes; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Broadly elliptic-shaped leaves.    -   4. Developing leaves with green and yellow green-colored        variegation.    -   5. Fully expanded leaves with darker green and light yellow        green-colored variegation.

Plants of the new Schefflera are similar to plants of the parent, thecultivar Hong Kong, in plant and growth habit, however plants of the newSchefflera differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Hong Kong infoliage variegation coloration.

Plants of the new Schefflera can be compared to plants of the cultivarPVN III, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,541. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Apopka, Fla.,plants of the new Schefflera differed from plants of the cultivar PVNIII in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Schefflera had broader leaves than plants        of the cultivar PVN III.    -   2. Plants of the new Schefflera had dark green and light yellow        green-colored variegated foliage whereas plants of the cultivar        PVN III had dark green and creamy white variegated foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Schefflera. The photograph comprises a side perspective view ofa typical container of ‘Norma Jean’ with four plants per container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in theaforementioned photograph and the following description were grown withfour plants per container and in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse inApopka, Fla., that provided a 72% reduction of the ambient light level.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 70 to90° F. and night temperatures ranged from 45 to 70° F. Plants were aboutone year old when the photograph and description were taken. Plants werenot pinched.

-   Botanical classification: Schefflera arboricola cultivar Norma Jean.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Schefflera    arboricola cultivar Hong Kong, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at 80 to 90°            F.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 50 to 60 days at 50 to            60° F.        -   Root description.—Numerous, dense, freely-branching;            fibrous; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit;            inverted triangle; symmetrical. Short internodes; dense and            bushy growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 42 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 62 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Stem description.—Length: About 32.5 cm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Internode length: Short, about 1.4 cm. Aspect: Upright            to outwardly spreading. Strength: Flexible, but strong.            Texture, young: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, mature: Woody.            Color, young: Close to 146A. Color, mature: Close to 197C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement/appearance: Alternate;            palmately compound with about seven to eight leaflets per            leaf. Leaf diameter: About 14 cm by 16 cm. Leaflet length:            About 8 cm. Leaflet width: About 4.2 cm. Leaflet shape:            Broadly elliptic. Leaflet apex: Acute. Leaflet base:            Attenuate. Leaflet margin: Entire. Leaflet texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Leaflet            luster, upper surface: Glossy. Leaflet luster, lower            surface: Dull. Leaflet aspect: Slightly concave. Leaflet            color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Random and            irregularly shaped areas of close to 147A and close to 144A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Random and irregularly            shaped areas of close to 191B and close to 146D. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Random and irregularly            shaped areas of darker green than 147A and close to 154C.            Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Random and            irregularly shaped areas of close to 147B and close to 146B            to 146C. Veins, upper and lower surfaces: Similar to lamina.            Leaflet petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Leaflet petiole            diameter: About 2 mm. Leaflet petiole texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Leaflet petiole color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 146A. Leaf            petiole length: About 10 cm. Leaf petiole diameter: About            2 mm. Leaf petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Leaf petiole color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 146A to 147A.-   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on    plants of the new Schefflera.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Schefflera have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Schefflera.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Schefflera have been observed    to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from 32 to    more than 100° F.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Schefflera plant named ‘Norma Jean’,as illustrated and described.